3 Easy Steps to Austin Health Insurance ...

Austin Health Insurance Information

This site provides you with many of the resources you will need to shop for Health Insurance in Austin Texas. Whether you’re an individual, a family, self-employed, or a small business, we can help you make an educated decision on which plan makes the most sense for your situation and preferences. Use the selections above to get quotes or request quotes and please feel comfortable calling us for free phone support from an experienced Austin Health Insurance Agent.

Austin , Texas prides itself on being focused on a healthy environment and healthy residents and many of the city and state-sponsored parks and recreation areas contribute to that focus. Consequently, Austin and its residents are often referred to in various lists related to healthiest areas to live.

According to Money magazine’s “100 Best Places to Live” article in 2006, 82.2% of Austin residents have a health insurance plan. The average Body Mass Index is 27 indicating a rather fit population. Both the cancer mortality and cardiac mortality rate are significantly lower than the national average.

Some of the Major Medical Facilities in the Austin area

Austin is also committed to doing their part in trying to reduce the number of un-insured in Texas by providing a number of medical care programs for un-insured or under-insured residents of Austin and the surrounding area who can not afford or do not qualify to obtain health insurance in Austin. Some of the larger programs include:

Community Health Center of Austin - http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/communitycare/chc.htm - Currently, the City of Austin Community Care Services Department operates nineteen Community Health Center (CHC) service delivery sites which provide comprehensive primary care and medical, dental, and behavioral health services to residents of Travis County in Public Health Region Seven.  The city manages these provider sites pursuant to an interlocal agreement with the District.  Six large centers are located in Northeast Austin, South Austin, and East Austin areas.  Four smaller centers are located in the communities of Manor, Del Valle, Pflugerville, and Oak Hill.  Six sites, including a mobile dental unit and vision center serve the homeless population of Travis County , and one center is dedicated to providing HIV/AIDS services.  Clinical services include but are not limited to: primary care, medical, dental, behavioral health, women's health, prenatal care, family planning, children's health, testing for STDs and HIV, lab and x-ray services, care for chronic illness, and health education. Travis County has an estimated 172,000 uninsured residents or 19.3 percent of its population. Research indicates that many of these residents have great difficulty in accessing basic primary and preventive healthcare. Local safety net primary care providers, including the CHCs, consistently operate at more than 100 percent of their capacity. The CHC system plays a leading role in the community's healthcare safety net. It is the medical home to about one-half of local safety net primary care patients. As the largest volume provider, the CHCs have worked diligently to respond to increasing community-wide demand. 

Medical Assistance Program (MAP) for Austin and Travis County Residents - http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/communitycare/map.htm - The Medical Assistance Program (MAP) provides access to health care through networks of established providers for those Travis County residents who meet eligibility criteria. MAP is funded by the Travis County Healthcare District and administered by the City of Austin Community Care Services Department. Travis County residents with family incomes at or below 100 percent of the Federal Poverty Index Guidelines (FPIG), who meet asset guidelines, and have no other health care coverage (such as Medicaid or Medicare). Travis County residents who are disabled or elderly with incomes at or below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Index Guidelines, who meet asset guidelines, and have no other health care coverage (such as Medicaid or Medicare). Travis County residents with Medicaid or Medicare will not qualify for MAP benefits. Persons who do not qualify for MAP may be eligible for other programs that offer health care services at reduced rates. Centers include:

Cesar Chavez Building 1111 E. Cesar Chavez Austin, 972-5300	Del Valle Community Center 3518 FM 973 Del Valle, 247-4407
A. K. Black Community Health Ctr. 928 Blackson Austin , 972-5300	Northeast Austin Community Health Ctr. 7112 Ed Bluestein Austin , 972-5300
Manor Community Center 600 W. Carrie Manor Austin , 272-5561	South Austin Community Health Center 2529 S. First Street Austin , 972-5300
Oak Hill Community Center 8656 Hwy 71 West, Bldg. A. 1st Floor Austin , 854-2130	Pflugerville Community Center 15822 Foothill Farms Loop , Bldg. D Pflugerville, 251-8202

Austin Women's Hospital - In February 2002, the Austin City Council approved the creation of an acute care facility on the fifth floor of Brackenridge Hospital at 601 East 15th Street . The Austin Women's Hospital opened in January, 2004, and is operated by the University of Texas Medical Branch . Entrance to the facility is via elevators located on Hospital Drive . A level one, general hospital operated by the City of Austin offering quality women's health services including: Maternity (Labor and Delivery, Mother/Baby Couplet Care), Outpatient Services including: OB Triage, Outpatient Surgery, (elective tubal ligations only), Basic Ultrasound Services, Early Discharge of Newborns/Follow-up. Family Planning Services

Health Alliance for Austin Musicians - http://www.healthallianceforaustinmusicians.org/ - a low-cost primary health care services, basic dental care and mental health counseling  program for uninsured, professional musicians in the Austin-area, through HAAM, the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians.

HAAM Services Include:

• Mental Health counseling provided by SIMS Foundation .
• Primary Health Care provided by Seton Family of Hospitals
• Dental Care services provided by St. David's Community Health Foundation Leadership

The mission of the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians is to provide access to affordable health care for Austin 's low income, uninsured musicians, focusing on prevention and wellness.   Austin is the "Live Music Capital of the World," yet many professional working musicians are self-employed and rarely have access to health insurance. Without insurance, they can't afford preventive health care, including primary medical care, basic dental services and mental health counseling.

 The music industry is an important contributor to Austin 's economy:

• Nearly $1 billion in economic activity, more than $25 million in local tax revenue each year.
• It provides 11,200 jobs.
• Austin has more than 8,000 musicians.
• Millions of dollars added to the city's economy and tens of thousands of visitors from around the world brought annually by Austin City Limits Music Festival and South By Southwest Music & Media Conference.
• Source: Texas Perspectives, City of Austin , 2004

Options Available in Austin Health Insurance

Austin health insurance options consist largely of PPO health insurance plans. While there are numerous plans available on the market from dozens of companies, the larger trusted companies include Aetna , Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana, Unicare, and United Healthcare. You can view online health insurance quotes from this website ( www.texashealthandlife.com ) or by calling local number (866) 894-3258 and speaking with Richard Cantu, an experienced licensed Texas Health Insurance broker.